7 ms·

For simple cameras, I'm a fan of the Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I CCTV POE 3MP Bullet IP HD Security Network Camera, 4mm camera for 1/3 of the price. They've done wel

For simple cameras, I'm a fan of the Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I CCTV POE 3MP Bullet IP HD Security Network Camera, 4mm camera for 1/3 of the price. They've done well in below -20F degree weather. Also another vote for Blue Iris. It's not the most user friendly software but it's awesome for the price. It can be tricky to get configured just right though... I would love to hear if anyone has any recommendations for getting Blue Iris to do some of the features of this camera, such as compare face images against a Google Photos API? I would also be curious to know if the cameras that move & try to auto focus are actually better. That seems like a potential plus but I could see wind blowing trees or a squirrel running causing the camera to focus on the wrong things. Maybe the Nest is smarter & only goes for certain objects that it can recognize... Motion sensor recording is kind of a pain to get right on my Blue Iris. Windy trees & spiders cause me to get a lot more video than necessary.

JoblessWonder 9y ago
Just be wary of Amazon vendors. I purchased a camera fulfilled through Amazon and it was a fake. Returning/Exchanging was simple but the difference in the label was clear when viewed side by side.
- post_break 9y ago
  Not only that, but some companies offer 0 warranty when purchased through Amazon or BH. You have to buy through a distributor who will only warranty it if you have them install it. Like ACTI.
- ad_hominem 9y ago
  I always hear people recommend Hikvision cameras but then I wonder where they buy them from, because it seems there is a lot of this counterfeiting you mention going on. Hikvision even has a page about it.[1] Makes me wonder how many folks have knockoffs and they're not even aware of it. I almost bought one from B&H Photo, but even they're not on the authorized partner list.[2] [1]: http://www.hikvision.com/us/about_10677.html http://www.hikvision.com/us/about_10677.html [2]: http://www.hikvision.com/us/distributionPartner.aspx?stat=1&c_kind=43&c_kind2=45&c_kind3=56 http://www.hikvision.com/us/distributionPartner.aspx?stat=1&...
- sgustard 9y ago
  To be clear, Amazon sells a lot of fake cameras labelled as such for like $12. These, some alarm window stickers & a Beware of the Raccoon sign are my main security system. https://www.amazon.com/Security-Realistic-Surveillance-Businesses-Armo/dp/B01HDZM6N8 https://www.amazon.com/Security-Realistic-Surveillance-Busin...
  - JoblessWonder 9y ago
    Yeah, I should probably clarify that I mean counterfeit cameras. They functioned for a day before nearly catching fire.
gnicholas 9y ago
Appreciate the recommendations. We considered getting a Nest, but we don't have great internet and therefore can't handle HD streaming up to the cloud 24/7. Until (unless?) the Nest can do bursts based on motion, we'll opt for a camera with SD backup instead.
- criddell 9y ago
  I have a Netgear Arlo system and it only captures when it detects motion. I'm looking for a continuous camera system that doesn't require cloud service but haven't found anything I like.
  - pfranz 9y ago
    I got an Amcrest IP2M-841 (1920TVL). It has wired or wireless network, usb powered, and a local SD card. I'm writing to a Synology, which does not have good software, but works. I'm using it indoors and I'm using the Amcrest app on the phone for live view, which is much better than the Synology app, but not fantastic, either. I have friends that have an Arlo and like it. I was specifically looking for a continuous camera and didn't want a cloud service. If I didn't have the Synology I would look into Blue Iris...but I haven't heard great things about any of the software out there.
danielvinson 9y ago
Sorry for repeating a shameless plug (I posted elsewhere on this thread), but if you're interested in these cameras, but with cloud storage and more reliability, my company uses extremely similar cameras to this (we run our own software on Hikvision cameras, with tons of improvements across the board). We don't really focus on home systems, but at worst we are VERY good at recommending something for it. Our site is www.viaas.com.
criddell 9y ago
I too have a Hikvision camera that I bought on Amazon. I hooked it up to my QNAP NAS box. The camera works great, but the software (Surveillance Station and QVR) is awful. Have you found decent software? I saw a recommendation for Xeoma and that's next on my list to check out. My other camera system is a wireless Netgear Arlo setup and the software is comparatively excellent.
- mattferderer 9y ago
  I use Blue Iris. It's cheap & handles multiple cameras. It is updated often. The UI/UX is pretty decent. It's popular so any questions you have are probably available online. It works great for my experience level. I would recommend it for people who aren't looking for a very advanced program or a very simple hand holding program.
  - criddell 9y ago
    Thanks for the recommendation. I took a look at it and it looks like it checks most of what I was looking for. It would be nice if it were a application on my NAS box so I don't have to dedicate a Windows machine to be on all the time.
trevyn 9y ago
"Hikvision has a long history of cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting their products": https://ipvm.com/reports/hik-backdoor https://ipvm.com/reports/hik-backdoor It's not pretty. You're bordering on negligence using Hikvision, much less recommending them.
- mattferderer 9y ago
  Thank you as I was unaware of this. At quick glance of what you shared, it doesn't seem like most users should be effected by this. I'm assuming the typical setup is putting your cameras on a router & then using software like Blue Iris if you want to allow remote access to the videos. I would hope no one actually allows someone to connect directly to a camera using the camera's software over the internet. Am I missing some larger vulnerability?
  - trevyn 9y ago
    If your approach to network security is "putting your cameras on a router", I don't suppose you'd mind me attaching this little black box to your network?
    - mattferderer 9y ago
      That requires getting your box connected to my network through a network cable. I'm not saying that what I suggested is flawless security. I'm just asking if it is preventing the attacks in the link you included.
      - trevyn 9y ago
        That is the wrong question to ask.
    - mc32 9y ago
      Can't you put those cams on a poe and your sec machine would have two nics, one to the poe, one to your house network? Dont route btwn nics.
- 9y ago

JoblessWonder 9y ago

Just be wary of Amazon vendors. I purchased a camera fulfilled through Amazon and it was a fake. Returning/Exchanging was simple but the difference in the label was clear when viewed side by side.

post_break 9y ago
Not only that, but some companies offer 0 warranty when purchased through Amazon or BH. You have to buy through a distributor who will only warranty it if you have them install it. Like ACTI.
ad_hominem 9y ago
I always hear people recommend Hikvision cameras but then I wonder where they buy them from, because it seems there is a lot of this counterfeiting you mention going on. Hikvision even has a page about it.[1] Makes me wonder how many folks have knockoffs and they're not even aware of it. I almost bought one from B&H Photo, but even they're not on the authorized partner list.[2] [1]: http://www.hikvision.com/us/about_10677.html http://www.hikvision.com/us/about_10677.html [2]: http://www.hikvision.com/us/distributionPartner.aspx?stat=1&c_kind=43&c_kind2=45&c_kind3=56 http://www.hikvision.com/us/distributionPartner.aspx?stat=1&...
sgustard 9y ago
To be clear, Amazon sells a lot of fake cameras labelled as such for like $12. These, some alarm window stickers & a Beware of the Raccoon sign are my main security system. https://www.amazon.com/Security-Realistic-Surveillance-Businesses-Armo/dp/B01HDZM6N8 https://www.amazon.com/Security-Realistic-Surveillance-Busin...
- JoblessWonder 9y ago
  Yeah, I should probably clarify that I mean counterfeit cameras. They functioned for a day before nearly catching fire.

gnicholas 9y ago

Appreciate the recommendations. We considered getting a Nest, but we don't have great internet and therefore can't handle HD streaming up to the cloud 24/7. Until (unless?) the Nest can do bursts based on motion, we'll opt for a camera with SD backup instead.

criddell 9y ago
I have a Netgear Arlo system and it only captures when it detects motion. I'm looking for a continuous camera system that doesn't require cloud service but haven't found anything I like.
- pfranz 9y ago
  I got an Amcrest IP2M-841 (1920TVL). It has wired or wireless network, usb powered, and a local SD card. I'm writing to a Synology, which does not have good software, but works. I'm using it indoors and I'm using the Amcrest app on the phone for live view, which is much better than the Synology app, but not fantastic, either. I have friends that have an Arlo and like it. I was specifically looking for a continuous camera and didn't want a cloud service. If I didn't have the Synology I would look into Blue Iris...but I haven't heard great things about any of the software out there.

danielvinson 9y ago

Sorry for repeating a shameless plug (I posted elsewhere on this thread), but if you're interested in these cameras, but with cloud storage and more reliability, my company uses extremely similar cameras to this (we run our own software on Hikvision cameras, with tons of improvements across the board). We don't really focus on home systems, but at worst we are VERY good at recommending something for it. Our site is www.viaas.com.

criddell 9y ago

I too have a Hikvision camera that I bought on Amazon. I hooked it up to my QNAP NAS box. The camera works great, but the software (Surveillance Station and QVR) is awful. Have you found decent software? I saw a recommendation for Xeoma and that's next on my list to check out. My other camera system is a wireless Netgear Arlo setup and the software is comparatively excellent.

mattferderer 9y ago
I use Blue Iris. It's cheap & handles multiple cameras. It is updated often. The UI/UX is pretty decent. It's popular so any questions you have are probably available online. It works great for my experience level. I would recommend it for people who aren't looking for a very advanced program or a very simple hand holding program.
- criddell 9y ago
  Thanks for the recommendation. I took a look at it and it looks like it checks most of what I was looking for. It would be nice if it were a application on my NAS box so I don't have to dedicate a Windows machine to be on all the time.

trevyn 9y ago

"Hikvision has a long history of cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting their products": https://ipvm.com/reports/hik-backdoor https://ipvm.com/reports/hik-backdoor It's not pretty. You're bordering on negligence using Hikvision, much less recommending them.

mattferderer 9y ago
Thank you as I was unaware of this. At quick glance of what you shared, it doesn't seem like most users should be effected by this. I'm assuming the typical setup is putting your cameras on a router & then using software like Blue Iris if you want to allow remote access to the videos. I would hope no one actually allows someone to connect directly to a camera using the camera's software over the internet. Am I missing some larger vulnerability?
- trevyn 9y ago
  If your approach to network security is "putting your cameras on a router", I don't suppose you'd mind me attaching this little black box to your network?
  - mattferderer 9y ago
    That requires getting your box connected to my network through a network cable. I'm not saying that what I suggested is flawless security. I'm just asking if it is preventing the attacks in the link you included.
    - trevyn 9y ago
      That is the wrong question to ask.
  - mc32 9y ago
    Can't you put those cams on a poe and your sec machine would have two nics, one to the poe, one to your house network? Dont route btwn nics.
9y ago